MANILA, Philippines - Two “world-class” public service advertisements directed by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza were aired by the Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) on Friday, September 2, as part of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. The TV commercials were produced by the Presidential Communications Office in partnership with the MTRCB.

Mendoza, who was previously tasked to direct President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA), offered to direct the television commercials tackling the ills of illegal drugs for free. The anti-drug commercials will be aired for free in television networks and select cinema houses for the entire month of September, says Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar .

“We all know how costly commercials are. A 30-second ad usually costs P4 million, it’s so expensive. The good news is Director Mendoza did not ask for any payment. These are world-class advertisements,” Andanar said.

The public service advertisements, which run for two minutes and 30 seconds, aim to spread public awareness against the use of illegal drugs. One of the videos titled “Mother” shows how illegal drugs ruined the life of a youth who used the money remitted by his OFW mother to fund his vice.

On the other hand, the video titled “Father” reveals the drug menace’s devastating effect on the user’s family. Both video posts used the hashtag #PartnerForChange.

The videos were well-received by netizens and have amassed hundreds of thousands of views as of this writing.

The TV commercials were produced amid criticisms of local and international groups on the Duterte administration’s intensified anti-drug campaign. The spate of drug-related killings has breached the 2,000 mark a few weeks before the administration enters its third month in the office.

--Mini, The Summit Express

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